despite

UK: /dɪˈspaɪt/ US: /dɪˈspaɪt/ ,(di spīt′)

Inflections of 'despite' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

despites

v 3rd person singular

despiting

v pres p

despited

v past

despited

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•spite /dɪˈspaɪt/   prep. 

1. in spite of;
   notwithstanding:
   I failed the test despite studying all night.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•spite  (di spīt′), prep., n., v., -spit•ed, -spit•ing. 
prep. 

1. in spite of;
   notwithstanding.

n. 

2. contemptuous treatment;
   insult.
3. malice, hatred, or spite.
4. in despite of, in spite of;
   notwithstanding:
   He was tolerant in despite of his background and education.

v.t. 

5. [Obs.] to anger or annoy (someone) out of spite.

• Latin dēspectus view from a height, scorn, equivalent. to dēspec-, variant stem of dēspicere (see despicable) + -tus suffix of verb, verbal action
• Old French
• 1250–1300; origin, originally in despite of; Middle English despit

Synonyms

• 1. See notwithstanding. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

despite / dɪˈspaɪt/ preposition

1. in spite of; undeterred by

noun

1. contempt; insult
2. in despite of ⇒ (preposition) in spite of

verb

1. (transitive)
   an archaic word for spite

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French despit, from Latin dēspectus contempt; see despise